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>Video for Linux Two API Specification: Revision 0.24</TH
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>Introduction</H1
><P
>Video For Linux Two is the second version of the Video For
Linux API, a kernel interface for analog radio and video capture and
output drivers.</P
><P
>Early drivers used ad-hoc interfaces. These were replaced in
Linux 2.2 by Alan Cox' V4L API, based on the interface of the bttv
driver. In 1999 Bill Dirks started the development of V4L2 to fix some
shortcomings of V4L and to support a wider range of devices. The API
was revised again in 2002 prior to its inclusion in Linux 2.5/2.6, and
work continues on improvements and additions while maintaining
compatibility with existing drivers and applications. In 2006/2007
efforts began on FreeBSD drivers with a V4L2 interface.</P
><P
>This book documents the V4L2 API. Intended audience are
driver and application writers.</P
><P
>If you have questions or ideas regarding the API, please
write to the Video4Linux mailing list: <A
HREF="https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/video4linux-list"
TARGET="_top"
>https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/video4linux-list</A
>. For inquiries about
the V4L2 specification contact the maintainer <A
HREF="mailto:mschimek@gmx.at"
TARGET="_top"
>mschimek@gmx.at</A
>.</P
><P
>The latest version of this document and the DocBook SGML
sources are hosted at <A
HREF="../index.html"
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>http://v4l2spec.bytesex.org</A
>,
and <A
HREF="http://linuxtv.org/downloads/video4linux/API/V4L2_API"
TARGET="_top"
>http://linuxtv.org/downloads/video4linux/API/V4L2_API</A
>.</P
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